Pattern recognition apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for recognizing characters or patterns from handwritten information. The apparatus is provided with plural methods of recognition, and a suitable method of recognition is selected according to the requirement of the user for recognizing the handwritten information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pattern recognition apparatus comprising: input means for inputting pattern information and method information designating a recognition method;   determining means for determining whether input information is the pattern information or method information;   memory control means for controlling a pattern information memory to store the pattern information when the input information is determined to be the pattern information by said determining means and controlling a method information memory to store the method information when the input information is determined to be the method information by said determining means;   dictionary means for storing a plurality of dictionaries corresponding to respective different recognition methods;   analyzing means for analyzing pattern information stored in the pattern information memory in accordance with a recognition method designated by method information stored in the method information memory; and   recognition means for recognizing the analyzed pattern information using one of the plurality of dictionaries corresponding to the recognition method designated by the stored method information.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a different one of said plural recognition methods is used by said dictionary means after the result of said dictionary means using the earlier recognition method is erroneous. 
     
     
       3. A pattern recognition apparatus comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of different recognition methods including first and second recognition methods;   input means for inputting pattern information;   recognition means for recognizing the input pattern information using the first recognition method;   output means for outputting a recognition result by said recognition means; and   instruction means for instructing said recognition means to recognize the input information again in response to the recognition result output by said output means,   wherein said recognition means recognizes the input pattern information being recognized again using the second recognition method in response to an instruction from said instruction means.   
     
     
       4. A pattern recognition method applicable to an apparatus having a plurality of dictionaries therein corresponding to respective different recognition methods, said method comprising the step of: inputting pattern information and method information designating a recognition method;   determining whether input information is the pattern information or the method information;   controlling a pattern information emory to store the pattern information when the input information is determined to be the pattern information in said determining step;   controlling a method information memory to store the method information when the input information is determined to be the method information in said determining step;   analyzing the pattern information stored in the pattern information memory in accordance with a recognition method designated by said method information stored in the method information memory; and   recognizing the analyzed pattern information using one of the plurality of dictionaries corresponding to the recognition method designated by the stored method information.   
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a different one of said plural recognition methods is used by said dictionary means after the result of said dictionary means using the earlier recognition method is erroneous. 
     
     
       6. A pattern recognition method, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of different recognition methods including first and second recognition methods;   inputting pattern information;   recognizing the input pattern information using the first recognition method;   outputting a recognition result obtained in the recognition step;   giving an instruction to recognize the input pattern information again in response to the recognition result; and   recognizing again the input pattern information using the second recognition method in response to an instruction given in the instruction step.